CUOMO TO HEADLINE SUCCESS ACADEMY BENEFIT—Capital’s Eliza Shapiro: Governor Andrew Cuomo will be the keynote speaker at Success Academy's annual spring benefit this April, according to an invite sent to Success employees this weekend. Cuomo and Success C.E.O. Eva Moskowitz officially became allies last winter, when Cuomo stepped into a battle between Moskowitz and Mayor Bill de Blasio, declaring he would ‘save charter schools’ at a massive Albany rally partially organized by Success. The event will be held April 20 at Cipriani 42nd Street in Manhattan, and will be co-chaired by Success board members Campbell Brown, Daniel Loeb, Joel Greenblatt, and Regina and John Scully. http://bit.ly/1tT6Edx

That event will come after the budget deadline, when Cuomo is expected to push for an increase to the charter cap, more money to charter schools and a host of new mandates to public schools that charters are free from.

Given all the money the Success people and other charter supporters have handed to Cuomo, it's the least he can do to give a little back.

United To Counter The Core has been tabulating the district results. I read that they were a little under in their estimation of opt outs last year, so I believe they are being cautious in their tabulations. But "official" stats won't come until later.

Also, John Flanagan had his press spokesman drive up to a local newspaper office and go in and get a complimentary copy of the paper while the senator "hid" in the vehicle. Talk about not wanting to show his face!! He also won't return reporters' calls about the huge number of opt-outs in his senatorial district. Coward.